[ LETTER ]

Social Security

Published: Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 1:40 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, February 2, 2013 at 1:40 a.m.

Pay attention to your next Social Security check, whether you get a check or an electronic deposit. Note what it is now called.

Your Social Security check is now referred to as a "federal benefit payment." This touches a nerve in me, as I hope it does in you.

This is not a benefit. This is earned income.

Not only did we contribute to Social Security, so did our employers.

I can only imagine how much better most average-income people could live in retirement if our government had just invested our money in a low-interest-earning account instead of taking the Social Security Trust Fund and using it to fund a pay-as-you-go system.

This policy started with Lyndon Johnson and has continued since. Washington has pulled a bigger Ponzi scheme than Bernie Madoff ever did.

They took our money and used it elsewhere.

They just forgot to tell us it was our money.

Welfare is a benefit program. Social Security is not.

We now have a president wanting to hold up Social Security income if he doesn't get what he wants.

<p>Pay attention to your next Social Security check, whether you get a check or an electronic deposit. Note what it is now called.</p><p>Your Social Security check is now referred to as a "federal benefit payment." This touches a nerve in me, as I hope it does in you.</p><p>This is not a benefit. This is earned income.</p><p>Not only did we contribute to Social Security, so did our employers.</p><p>I can only imagine how much better most average-income people could live in retirement if our government had just invested our money in a low-interest-earning account instead of taking the Social Security Trust Fund and using it to fund a pay-as-you-go system.</p><p>This policy started with Lyndon Johnson and has continued since. Washington has pulled a bigger Ponzi scheme than Bernie Madoff ever did.</p><p>They took our money and used it elsewhere.</p><p>They just forgot to tell us it was our money.</p><p>Welfare is a benefit program. Social Security is not.</p><p>We now have a president wanting to hold up Social Security income if he doesn't get what he wants.</p><p>FRED LEVERS</p><p>Auburndale</p>